Fire alarm and extinguisher



May 31, 1938. GRlSON I 2,119,103

FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER Filed April 16, 1935 IN VENTOR A TTORNEY Patented May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES FIRE ALARM AND EXTINGUISHER Joseph Grison, New York, N. Y., assignor to National Fire Detector Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application April 16, 1935, Serial No. 16,696

14 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in self-contained, temperaturecontrolled fire extinguishers and fire alarms, of the type disclosed in my Patent No. 1,987,590, dated January 8th, 1935, and the primary object of the invention is the provision of a self-contained fire extinguisher and fire alarm device which is provided with temperature-responsive means adapted to cause the device to extinguish the fire and to sound an audible signal as soon as a predetermined temperature is attained within the enclosure in which the alarm device is located.

A fiu'ther object of the invention is the provision of a fire extinguisher and fire alarm device of very simple construction, the component parts of which are so assembled and arranged as to eliminate any likelihood of the device becoming jammed or sluggish, and reducing the manufacturing costs to a minimum.

Other objects of the invention are attained by the novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of the components hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the device With a part of the gong broken away, showing the impact hammer and some of its associated parts;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device with the gong broken away, showing the spring motor, the impact hammer and the manner in which the gong is mounted.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional View of the thermostatic locking strip and its associated parts, and,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing forming a part of this application, the device is illustrated to include a bell I0, of a gong type, a cartridge containing a fire extinguishing agent and means, actuated under certain thermal conditions, to release and break said cartridge and to produce an audible signal by impact with the hell or gong.

Such means as above referred to include a spring-motor ll, of the well-known clock type. A- frame consisting of three plates l2, l3 and M are held in spaced relation by bolts l5. Positioned between the plates l2 and i3 is aflat coiled spring 16, one end of which is connected toone ofthe bolts 15, the other end being secured to a drive-shaft ll, extending from its journal in the plate l2 through the plates I3 and I4 and passing through a sleeve l1 welded or otherwise fastened to the plate 14. A large power gear I8 is loosely mounted upon the drive shaft l1 and carries therewith a spring-actuated pawl I9, which engages a ratchet wheel 20, keyed to the drive shaft, thereby permitting the winding of the coiled spring without disturbing the large power gear I8 and its associated gears and pinions. The power gear l8 transmits its power to the hammer or plunger by way of the pinion 2|, fixed to a shaft 22, to which is also secured a gear23, meshing with a pinion 24 mounted on a shaft 25, which latter has fixed thereto a gear 26, meshing with a pinion 21, which is secured to a shaft 28 and meshes with a gear 29, fixed to a shaft 30, to which a crank wheel 3| is also secured.

It will readily be observed that, through the gear train as just described, a rapid rotation is transmitted from the drive gear l8, to the gear 29, and the crank wheel 3|. This rotation is now transformed into a reciprocatory motion of the impact hammer 32, through the pitman 60. The hammer 32 is slidably mounted upon the plate i l, and within guides 34 fixed to the plate I4, said plate being provided with extended portions 35 in the form of ribs upon which the impact hammer 32 reciprocates, thereby decreasing friction and preventing undue accumulation of oil and dust between the plate I4 and the impact hammer 32, and the possibility of preventing the free reciprocation of the impact hammer.

As a means of locking the hammer against reciprocation, I have provided the hammer 32 with a pin, 36 normally engaged by a flat strip 31 of thermostatic metal lying in a plane parallel to the plane in which the hammer reciprocates. The strip 31 is attached to a standard 38, by means of a knurled nut 39, which standard is riveted or otherwise properly fixed to the plate 14. The top of the pin 36 is rounded off at one end and will engage strip 31 upon one side, to wit, the locking side, and prevent any improper cessation of the reciprocation of the hammer, as would likely be the case if the pin 36 were provided with a fiat top.

A cartridge or bomb 3B of glass filled with a fire extinguishing agent which will vaporize and smother a fire over an area of approximately 4,000 cubic feet, is held suspended an appreciable distance from the floor by a latch mechanism, operated by the movement of the hammer 32.

The latch mechanism includes a movable arm 31' which extends through the plate M having one of its ends terminating in a projection 38', and in direct alignment with a spring actuated button 39', fastened to the plate l3, and its other end extending beyond its pivot 40, between projections 4| upon the underside of the hammer 32.

It will be observed that any movement of the hammer 32 will move the projection 38, through its arm 31', out of alignment with the button 39, allowing the cartridge or bomb to fall to the floor and break, thereby releasing the fire extinguishing agent, which will vaporize and smother the fire and, at the same time, sound an audible signal.

In operation, when a predetermined high temperature is reached in the enclosure housing the device, the metal strip 3! will curl outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, and out of the path of pin 36, and release the impact hammer 32. The unwinding of the spring IE will cause rotation of the crank wheel 3|, to rapidly reciprocate the impact hammer 32, so that the curved end 32' thereof will strike the gong I0 and produce a very loud alarm which will continue for an appreciable duration of time, or so long as the thermal condition exists, and release the cartridge to extinguish the flames.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that I have provided a simple and efiective selfcontained fire alarm device which will automatically release the fire extinguishing agent and produce an audible signal when a predetermined temperature has been attained, and which is capable of resetting itself after the temperature decreases.

The gong I0 is held in position by the knurled nut screwed upon the sleeve II, which is rigidly attached to the plate I4 of the spring motor framework.

I have provided the spring motor with a drive shaft [1, having a permanent key 42, thereby permitting an authorized operator to have access to the winding mechanisms of the motor, by the utilization of said key.

For the purpose of positioning and attaching the complete device to a wall or any other support, I have provided a metal eyelet secured to the plate I2.

Modifications of this invention may be suggested to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains, but I claim as my invention all structures falling fairly within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combined fire detector, extinguisher, and alarm, an alarm ringing member, actuating means normally tending to operate said member, a temperature controlled member to hold or release said alarm ringing member, a fire extinguishing agent, and means whereby said alarm ringing member upon being operated releases said extinguishing agent.

2. In combination, a gong, a ringing member therefor, actuating means normally tending to operate said ringing member, means to hold said ringing member and actuating means inoperative until a predetermined temperature is reached, a fire extinguisher, and means controlled by said ringing member to release said extinguisher by the operation of said ringing member.

3. In combination with a gong, a reciprocable member whereby said gong is rung, actuating means normally tending to operate said reciprocable member, means to hold said reciprocable member inoperative until a predetermined temperature is reached, a fire extinguisher, and

means controlled by said reciprocable member to release said extinguisher by the operation of said reciprocable member.

4. In combination, a gong, a ringing member therefor, actuating means normally tending to operate said ringing member, a projection carried by said ringing member, means to engage said projection and hold said ringing member inoperative until a predetermined temperature has been reached, a fire extinguisher, and means controlled by said ringing member to release said extinguisher by the operation of said ringing member.

5. In combination, a gong, a member adapted to repeatedly strike said gong, actuating means for said member, a projection carried by said member, a thermostatic strip normally engaging said projection to hold said member inoperative until a predetermined temperature has been reached whereupon said thermostatic strip releases said projection, a fire extinguisher, and means controlled by said member to release said extinguisher by the operation of said member.

6. In combination, a gong, a clapper for said gong, means normally tending to operate said clapper into and out of engagement with said gong, a plate on which said clapper is mounted, means whereby said clapper is held inoperative until a predetermined temperature has been obtained, an arm actuated by said clapper and projecting through said plate, a fire extinguisher, and means whereby said extinguisher is released when the said arm is actuated.

7. In combination, a plate, a stud mounted on said plate, an arm having a projection normally in aligned engagement with said stud, a fire extinguisher adapted to be supported by said stud and projection, and temperature responsive means whereby said arm may be moved so as to carry said projection out of alignment with said stud so as to drop said fire extinguisher.

8. In combination, a stud and a projection, a fire extinguisher, means whereby said fire extinguisher is supported on said stud and projection when they are in alignment with each other, and temperature controlled means to move said projection out of engagement with said stud when a predetermined temperature has been reached so as to drop said fire extinguisher.

9. In combination, a frangible fire extinguisher, two members, said fire extinguisher being normally supported by the conjoint action of both of said members, means whereby one of said members may be moved away from the other member so as to drop said fire extinguisher, said means including a bell clapper, and means operatively connecting said bell clapper to said movable member.

10. In combination, a bell clapper, actuating means therefor, heat responsive means to hold said clapper inoperative until a predetermined temperature has been reached and to release said bell clapper when said predetermined temperature has been reached, an arm controlled by said clapper, a projection carried by said arm, a fixed support, a projection carried by said fixed support, a frangible fire extinguisher suspended on said projections, and means operatively connecting said clapper and arm so that the projection carried by said arm will be moved away from the projection carried by the fixed supportso as to drop said fire extinguisher when the clapper is operated.

11. In a combined fire alarm and extinguisher, a bell, a plunger, means to guide the plunger in a straight line, spring means to reciprocate the plunger into and out of contact with the bell, means to release the plunger when the temperature reaches a predetermined point and adapted to restrain the operation of the plunger when the temperature is below the predetermined temperature, a frangible container for a fire extinguishing means, said container being mounted so that it can be released and means controlled by the plunger to release the container when the plunger is operated.

12. In a fire alarm device and extinguisher, a bell, a plunger, a revolution crank connected to the plunger, spring means to operate the crank to cause the plunger to reciprocate longitudinally of its length into and out of contact with the bell, temperature controlled means to hold the plunger in inoperative condition until the temperature has reached a predetermined point and thereupon to release the plunger, a frangible container for a fire extinguishing composition, means controlled by the plunger to partially support the container while the plunger is held inoperative, and means to release the partial support so as to drop the container by the plunger when reciprocated.

13. In combination, a bell, a plunger, means to normally hold the plunger inoperative and to release the plunger when the temperature reaches a predetermined point, means to cause the plunger to be operated when released, a frangible container, means whereby the said frangible container is normally supported, and means operated by the plunger to release the container by the plunger when reciprocated.

14. In combination, a bell, a plunger, temperature responsive means to hold said plunger against reciprocation when the temperature is below a predetermined point and to release it when the temperature reaches a predetermined point, means to operate the plunger when the plunger is released, a container for a fire extinguishing agent, a fixed support and a movable support on which the container is mounted, and means actuated by the plunger to remove the movable sup port laterally out of engagement with the fixed support by the plunger when operated, so as to release the container.

JOSEPH GRISON. 

